Description
A creamy, flavorful Shrimp Scampi Pasta Bake combining tender linguine with sautéed shrimp in a garlicky butter and white wine sauce, topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses for a comforting baked pasta dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 oz linguine or spaghetti
Shrimp and Sauce:
- 1 lb large shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
- 1 lemon (juiced and zested)
- 1 cup heavy cream
Cheese and Garnish:
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the pasta dish.
- Cook Pasta: Boil linguine or spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente, then drain thoroughly.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter and sauté minced garlic for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Cook Shrimp: Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until they turn pink and opaque, then remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Simmer Sauce Base: Pour white wine or chicken broth into the skillet and let it simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly and develop flavor.
- Add Cream and Lemon: Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, and heavy cream; bring mixture to a gentle simmer to blend flavors.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss well to coat evenly with the creamy sauce. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
- Assemble Bake: Transfer the sauced pasta into a baking dish. Layer the cooked shrimp evenly over the top, then sprinkle grated Parmesan and shredded mozzarella cheeses evenly across the surface.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese melts and becomes bubbly and lightly golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for color and freshness, then serve hot.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken broth for white wine if preferred for a non-alcoholic version.
- To prevent overcooking shrimp, remove them as soon as they turn pink and opaque during sautéing.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan and mozzarella for best melting and flavor.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your desired spice level.
- For a lighter version, you can replace heavy cream with half-and-half, though the sauce will be less rich.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: shrimp scampi pasta bake, creamy shrimp pasta, baked linguine with shrimp, seafood pasta bake, garlic butter shrimp pasta
